YOUTH CONGRESS by Dixie Plata – Pathfinder Historian
One of the greatest strengths of any church is its youth. No organization is stronger than the young people who make up its membership. Seventh-day Adventist youth area part of a great world-wide movement which has the objective of sharing the Advent Message to all the world. Youth meetings, rightly named Youth Congress, began to bring youth together to experience anew God’s leading in their lives. To help them commit to the divine mission and enjoy Christian faith, fellowship and witness.
A Youth Congress provides an opportunity to hear anew the call to service in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. A place to experience New life in Christ and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
Since the first Youth Congress, of record, held at Chemnitz, Germany July 17-22, 1928 to current Youth Congresses young people and their leaders are challenged to a closer walk with Jesus and to share their faith. At this Youth Congress there were 3,000 delegates.
Romania, July 4-10, 1937, held their first Youth Congress was held with 1,300 delegates. Because so many of the church members were youth this congress set the tone for major growth of the church in Romania.
A youth Congress was held for the youth of the South Pacific Division in 1939 at Avondale College, Australia. Delegates dedicated their lives to sharing the love of God.
The first North American Division Youth Congress was held in San Francisco, California September 3-7, 1947. Many delegates and attendees dedicated their lives to spreading the Three Angles Message.
In 1948 the South Pacific Division held their second Youth Congress and in 1952 the Brazilian Youth Congress began with 2,000 delegates – a real “Army of Youth rightly trained.”
The Pacific Union Conference held a Youth Congress at Lynwood Auditorium and the Hollywood Bowl in California June 8-12, 1949.
I am certain there are others that I have missed between 1928 and 1950 but the point is God’s youth are on the move, God’s leaders are leading His youth to become leaders in their church.
May be you attended the Pan-American Youth Congress in San Francisco June 16-20, 1953. From the first call of the Trumpeters at the opening of the meetings to the last prayer at the close Seventh-day Adventist youth of the Americas were kept almost breathless with the fast-paced tempo of a program that never recognized a dull moment. Delegates came to bear witness to the power of God flowing through the lives of youth whose hearts are aflame for the Master they serve. Did you attend one or more of the 27 workshops sparked with interviews and personal testimonies of Share Your Faith activities?
Arnold attended this Youth Congress and in our collection we have the songbook and brochure he received. Here he was inspired to work with youth and enjoyed the musical talent and spiritual talks. There were more than 4,300 delegates plus many visitors that attended and from the first, attendance was far greater than anyone had anticipated. .
Since then there have been many, many Youth Congresses across the world and thousands of young people have dedicated their lives to Jesus and sharing His love.
January 2-7, 2017 the North New Zealand Conference – Youth Congress is in Auckland, New Zealand. August 1-5, 2017 the All-European Youth Congress will take place at Valencia, Spain. Other Youth Congresses are being planned in various Divisions and Conferences.
Every five years the General Conference Youth Ministries Department plan a Youth Congress the dates for the 2018 congress at Stuttgart, Germany is 30 July – 4 August is for youth ages 16- 35. Plan now to attend! Youth.adventistchurch.org.uk/Stuttgart-2018-WCYCS
If you have a story about a Youth Congress you attended please share with us that we may include your story in our Youth Congress display of the Adventist Youth Ministries Museum.
